On Thursday, former Israeli major general and national security adviser Yaakov Amidror expressed concerns that war with Iran is becoming increasingly likely and that Israel should prepare to attack Iran’s nuclear capabilities without U.S. assistance.
During an interview with an Israeli radio station, the former general said, “We need to prepare for war. It’s possible that we will reach a point where we have to attack Iran even without American assistance.”
Amidror's comments were made after recent Palestinian violence over the Passover holiday in which rockets were fired at Israel from Gaza, Lebanon, and Syria by groups that have received financial and military assistance from Iran. One rocket attack on Israel from Lebanon was the largest since 2006.
According to Amidror, Iran is becoming more confident and has managed to sign agreements with Arab states, which may increase the chances of a security deterioration for Israel. In March of this year, Iran renewed diplomatic ties with Saudi Arabia in a deal brokered by China. This resumption of diplomatic relations with one of the regions most powerful countries reversed a seven-year absence of official ties.
Later in the interview he raised concerns about the U.S. commitment to Israel's security, stating, "America is not the same America in terms of its presence, and the Iranians see that. The U.S. has much greater problems than the Middle East. The world looks at Israel differently."
Despite repeated declarations by the U.S. that it is committed to Israel's security and a recent show of force in which a nuclear-powered guided-missile submarine was dispatched to the Middle East to "help ensure regional maritime security and stability," Amidror remains skeptical.
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